Chapter 22 #2
‘There’d be trauma if I ever met him again,’ Billie said savagely. ‘He can’t do his job? Then get another one. There must be a million jobs you can do sitting down.’
Zoe shrugged. ‘I don’t suppose we know the full story. He must have enough of a case to persuade a solicitor to send the letter.’
‘Don’t you believe that,’ Victor said. ‘Pay a solicitor enough and they’ll send any daft letter to anyone.’
‘I don’t know any solicitors, and I’ve never had much cause to use one… apart from my divorce and when we bought our house in Manchester, so I can’t comment either way.’
‘We’ve had our fair share of run-ins with them over the years, haven’t we, Cor?’
‘That we have,’ Corrine agreed. ‘Although,’ she added hurriedly, ‘I’m sure Alex’s friend is not one of those ones.’
Zoe undid the top buttons of her blouse, dreading the rush of heat and anxiety that she already knew was coming. Not now, not here, when everyone would see and everyone would ask. She dragged in a breath, waiting for the wave to hit.
‘I… I need to use the bathroom… Won’t be a minute…’
And she rushed out before anyone was able to comment.
In the bathroom, she kicked off her boots to let the cold of the tiles seep through her socks then leaned over the sink and splashed her face with ice-cold water.
As she tried to control her racing pulse, she looked in the mirror to see her cheeks were aflame and her neck was glistening with sweat. There was no way it would have gone unnoticed. She couldn’t go on like this and keep it a secret.
Even as she told herself this, Corrine’s voice was at the door.
‘Everything all right in there, love?’
Of course she’d be concerned. She’d witnessed, only days before, Zoe almost passing out. Anyone would be worried.
‘I’m fine,’ Zoe called. ‘I’ll be in… Need a minute.’
‘Are you sure? I could phone Alex, if you need me to. Or someone else? Or the spare bed is always made up if you need a lie-down.’
Zoe flashed a rueful smile at her own reflection.
How lovely would it be to have Corrine care for her right now?
She and Victor had once had Ottilie living with them, and now they had Fern, and their input had made both women feel better, even if it hadn’t banished the problems that had sent them there in the first place.
‘Thanks, but it’s really OK. It’s hot in the kitchen, that’s all, with the cooking and everyone in there.’
Zoe listened for the sound of footsteps that would tell her Corrine was leaving but didn’t hear it. ‘Corrine… are you still there?’
‘I’m still here. I was wondering if you wanted to talk.
Here, while it’s just us two and we have a minute.
I can’t help feeling all isn’t right with you.
I don’t mean to pry, but if you think it might help, then I’m happy to listen.
Or you could come over another time. Or I could meet you in the village… ’
‘That’s kind of you, but really, I don’t need to talk about anything.’
‘You must be under a lot of stress, what with all this legal business and everything.’
‘Everything?’
‘Being poorly. Trying to find a home for Fern, worrying about Maisie and all your other mums… Then there was all that trouble with Nigel and Chantal… all sorts. And I don’t suppose your job is easy. You do it marvellously, but I’m sure it must be hard work. No wonder you look so exhausted.’
Zoe caught her reflection again. ‘Do I?’
‘Perhaps that’s not what I meant to say.
You look lovely, but, well, you’re not quite yourself of late.
Even before you had that funny turn, I could see it.
I said it to Victor. We thought it was the work you were doing at Hilltop along with your own work and waking up for Louisa and all the rest of it catching up with you.
When this is over, if you and Alex want to get yourselves away for a holiday, Victor and I would be happy to look after Hilltop.
He said as much only the other day when I mentioned it because your Alex looks worn out too. ’
Zoe hadn’t really thought about it, but now that she did, she had to admit Alex had been looking tired.
Handsome, as always, but there was a weariness about him that hadn’t registered until Corrine had pointed it out.
Zoe had her own worries, but it was easy to forget he had plenty to worry about too – including her.
Keeping things from him probably wasn’t helping to put his mind at ease.
He was with Virginia now, trying to save the life he’d been building for them – for her and Billie and Louisa – and here she was sulking about it.
She should be there, helping. She should have insisted she stay when he’d told her to join Billie at Daffodil.
‘That sounds nice,’ she said, not even recognising how good it would be to run away with him until she’d spoken it out loud.
Not forever but for a while, so they could simply be a couple again.
They’d been through so much already, she often forgot that their relationship was so new and untested.
Until now, of course, because current events felt very much like a test.
‘I’ll put your stew in the oven to keep warm,’ Corrine said. ‘Until you’re ready to finish it.’
‘It’s all right – I’ve finished,’ Zoe said, giving her reflection another once-over to check that her face wasn’t quite so flushed now. ‘I’ll be back in; just give me a couple of minutes.’
‘I’ll put the kettle on then,’ Corrine said. ‘I’ve got cherry and almond slices for afters.’
Zoe had to smile. Lovely Corrine, who fixed everything with tea and cake. How could anyone be sad with Corrine around?
She washed her face again and put on her boots, and when she went back into the kitchen, she was calmer, though acutely aware of everyone watching her.
Perhaps Corrine had forewarned everyone not to ask because nobody did, and Zoe wasn’t sure whether to be glad about that or not.
She didn’t want people to feel they had to walk on eggshells when she was around, avoiding obvious subjects because they thought it might tip her over the edge to bring them up, but at the same time, she really didn’t fancy sharing her woes – at least, not here and now.
Corrine put a cup of tea and a plate of cake in front of her.
Already, the remains of their meal had been cleared away, and everyone else had the same.
Billie was tucking in, but every so often, her gaze would flick to check what Zoe was doing.
And while she made inconsequential conversation, Zoe could tell she was trying to figure things out.
Victor insisted on taking them home in Old Banger, and Zoe was relieved, even though she hadn’t wanted to put him out, because while they were in the car with him, Billie wouldn’t be able to interrogate her.
It was obvious she wanted to, more and more as the evening wore on.
She’d drop hints, ask things that might indirectly lead to some kind of admission, and by the end of the evening, she’d almost stopped pretending she was doing anything other than that.
Corrine had looked uncomfortable, as if it had somehow been her fault, though Victor, dear old Victor, was oblivious to any of it.
He asked once, at the end of the night, if Zoe was better after her dash to the bathroom, and Zoe had been forced to explain that all she’d wanted was to go to the toilet and that she’d been quite well.
She was sure Corrine would put him straight, but thankfully, Corrine had chosen to do that privately and said nothing to contradict her.
‘I won’t come in,’ he said as he pulled on the handbrake. ‘I expect Alex is tired and has a lot on his mind, and the last thing he needs is an old duffer like me rattling on.’
‘He’d enjoy seeing you.’ Zoe unclipped her seat belt while Billie took Louisa from the car seat.
It was sweet, Zoe had reflected when they’d first shown her, that he and Corrine had bought one for the various babies they’d hoped to be ferrying around, Louisa being one of them.
What Louisa made of being rattled about in Victor’s old Land Rover was another matter, but it hadn’t seemed to distress her too much.
In fact, she gazed up at the old man as Billie lifted her out, and Zoe saw what looked like a definite smile.
‘It’s kind of you to say so, but I’ll stay out of the way regardless. Tell him I’ll see him over the next few days out and about. If he needs anything, he can give me a call, of course – goes without saying.’
‘Thanks, Victor, we will.’
They bid him goodnight and then turned to the house.
As the sound of his car engine faded, Zoe opened the front door.
She’d been nervous about what she’d find, but, given the lateness of the hour and the long drive Virginia would have to make to get back to Nottingham, it was all she could do to contain a gasp of shock when she found her still at the table with Alex.
He seemed calmer. In fact, they both seemed in good spirits.
And while Zoe was pleased he’d calmed down, she was filled with misgiving that it appeared to be Virginia’s doing.
He looked up at their arrival. ‘Hi. How was dinner at Daffodil Farm?’
‘It was good,’ Billie said carefully. ‘Corrine sent some for you. It’s here…’ She showed him a pot covered with a teacloth.
‘That’s nice of her – I’ll have it tomorrow. We ordered a takeaway.’
‘You should have seen the delivery driver’s face when he arrived.’ Virginia laughed. ‘I had to give him such a big tip for coming all the way up here – he wasn’t happy about it.’
Zoe could see the remains of their meal piled up in the sink. She took the stew from Billie and put it in the fridge.
‘Daffodil Farm,’ Virginia continued. ‘It’s like a name from a fairy tale. I bet it’s so cute.’
‘It’s a working farm,’ Zoe said. ‘I don’t know if cute is the word you want.’
‘But it’s homely,’ Alex said. He looked at Virginia. ‘I should take you over to meet Corrine and Victor – you’d love them.’